Mannheim, September 24, 2013

Significant operating profit decrease of Südzucker in second quarter 2013/14 in comparison to prior year’s record level

Südzucker AG Mannheim/Ochsenfurt, Mannheim, reports group revenues within the first half year (1 March 2013 to 31 August 2013) of current financial year 2013/14 ...

Mannheim, September 24, 2013

Significant operating profit decrease of Südzucker in second quarter 2013/14 in comparison to prior year’s record level

Südzucker AG Mannheim/Ochsenfurt, Mannheim, reports group revenues within the first half year (1 March 2013 to 31 August 2013) of current financial year 2013/14 of EUR 4,046 million (Prior year: EUR 3,917 million). Group operating profit decreased significantly to EUR 425 million from EUR 562 million. Segments sugar, special products and CropEnergies showed a significant decrease in operating profit, whilst segment fruit strongly increased operating profit.

For financial year 2013/14 Südzucker still expects a slight increase of group revenues to about EUR 8.0 (previous year: 7.9) billion and a significant decrease in group operating profit to about EUR 825 (previous year: 974) million. It is more challenging to achieve this target due to the current cautious business development and effects from the integration of Ensus at CropEnergies.

The full interim report for the first half year 2013/14 will be published on 10 October 2013.

€ million

2nd quarter

1st half year

2013/14

2012/13

+/- in %

2013/14

2012/13

+/- in %

Revenues

2.016

2.031

-1

4.046

3.917

3

Operating profit

194

299

-35

425

562

-24

Operating margin

9,6%

14,7%

10,5%

14,3%

The Südzucker Group

Südzucker, with its sugar, special products, CropEnergies and fruit segments, is one of the leading companies in the food industry. In the traditional sugar business, the group is the world market leader, with 29 sugar factories and three refineries, extending from France in the west via Belgium, Germany and Austria, through to Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Bosnia and Moldova in the east. The special products segment, consisting of the functional food (BENEO), chilled/frozen products (Freiberger), portion packs and starch businesses, is an important growth driver. The CropEnergies segment covers the bioethanol activities in Germany, Belgium, France and the UK. In the fruit segment, the group operates internationally, is the world market leader for fruit preparations and is a leading supplier of fruit juice concentrates in Europe.

In 2012/13, the group employed 17,940 persons and generated revenues of about EUR 7.9 billion.